Can President Bush commit the United States to a war in the Gulf? As the weeks slip by, he is finding himself increasingly muscle-bound, despite the massive military power he continues to pour into the Gulf. First, the Soviets are stalling on a UN Security Council authorisation for the use of force to eject Iraq from Kuwait. Second, apart from Britain, his European allies are looking persistently hesitant about fighting. Sensing a lack of resolution on Washington's part, the Arabs in the anti-Iraq alliance are fumbling about for a compromise. Finally, President Saddam Hussein is exploiting the collective indecision of his opponents for all it is worth, and very effectively.